Prince of Fire Emblem: Gray Waves

[senselessness]

A princess with a poker face, Yukimura thought, as Yanagi took away the tea cups and retreated to where the rest of his entourage waited near the doorway.

He had open across the small negotiating table a letter from Princess Azura's stepfather, promising him that he would make her marriage as valuable to him as if she were his own flesh and blood. King Garon had a reputation that his own children shrank from, even as they bowed to his every whim. Azura didn't have the same fawning, wincing air as Garon's own children, from what Yukimura remembered of the spy reports. She looked placidly into his eyes.

"You pushed for this?" he asked, bluntly.

"No, milord," said the princess calmly. "Having just returned to Nohr after a long stay in Hoshido, I was as surprised as you."

Was she lying to him? She'd appeared at the gates of his castle alongside a delivery of flowers and wine for the ball celebrating Marui and Lissa's engagement, accompanied by her stepfather's offer of her hand and a ne'er-do-well with an axe as large as his body.

"He's this eager to get rid of you?"

"Or to gain your goodwill," she answered delicately.

Was she lying to him? The timing angered him immensely.

"By sending you here? Customarily, the pleasure of the bride's company is withheld until the marriage has been satisfactorily arranged."

"Your refusal is noted," she said, not without a certain heaviness.

His eyes narrowed. An outright refusal, in front of the man with the axe... his head burned. Could he afford to refuse Garon's offer without at least the pretense of consideration? Was she simply manipulating him into making a mistake?

"I said no such thing," he answered tightly. She inclined her head apologetically. "But my concern is with the engagement of my own princess, which you're interfering with."

She didn't contest his choice of verb, and his blood boiled.

"Like your princess, I am at the mercy of kings," she said. "I mean no disrespect to Lady Lissa."

But do you mean her harm? he wondered. Did Azura mean to displace her? The king's wife was necessarily given more authority than the king's sister. Yukimura didn't want that. He didn't want a wife for his own sake, there was nothing left within him that could love or cherish the princess before him nor any other, and he certainly didn't want a queen, who'd expect to see her own child on his throne in due time.

A queen would displace Lissa in the hierarchy of the court, and an heir would do the same in the line of succession. A perfect sabotage of his failsafe. A waste of Marui's and Lissa's sacrifices both-- not to mention the hints he'd tried to give them during their dance practice for tonight.

He had to play this intelligently-- even if he was starting late. He swallowed back the venom and vitriol he felt for this interloper and, hating himself for the debasement, stood, only to bow to her gallantly.

"Enjoy with us the festivities already planned," he said, more instructing than inviting. "We can talk more when I've discharged the business already in front of me."

"Yes, milord," she said, opaque as an iron wall.

Felicia -- delighted to be visited by a princess of her native land -- quickly escorted Azura and Hans, the axe man, to their lodgings, and Yukimura turned to his friends, pale and glowing with displeasure.

"I want to know why Nohr chose now to do this," he said, "but I will settle for what I should do to them in retaliation."

Comments

[didntaxyou]

He wouldn't, is what she wants to say. But he already did this fake engagement thing, and he must have known what Masaharu and Bunta know about it being wildly unpopular. Before, she would have been sure he'd never do that, either.

"He'd never hear the end of it, that's for sure," she said, finally. Whether it would be a reasoned and compelling speech or an uncontrollable crying fit, she didn't know.

"And you are as bad as Bunta-kun, answering questions with questions!"

[courtstrouble]

Atta girl, you make sure anyone who tries to define your happiness for you feels their mistake.

"When your questions are better than mine, I'll answer," he retorts.

[didntaxyou]

Lissa's cheeks puff out in anger again, and she glances down at their feet to aim her shoe at Niou's, before bringing it down.

"How about, 'why did he choose Bunta-kun,' then?!"

[courtstrouble]

She makes it too easy! The glance down gives her game away, and without needing to look himself, he steps forward while her foot is raised and sweeps the back of her grounded one towards him, taking advantage of his hand's place behind her for dancing to pull her in tight when he does. A safety for her weight: if she does lose her balance, it will barely be noticeable.

And whether she does or doesn't, if being pulled so close happens to fluster her in the process, so much the better.

"An excellent question indeed," he granted, eyes gleaming and grin wolfish. "If only you'd been paying attention in the meeting when he answered it."

[didntaxyou]

Lissa can't help a squeak of surprise as her arms wrap around Niou for firmer leverage.

"Don't make me order it out of you," she warned, eyes lighting up. "If everyone says I have power, I might end up having to use it!"

[courtstrouble]

Niou was already engaged in this conversation; Lissa's pushback exponentially increases that interest, and his appreciation for her answer is evident in his face as the predatory quality to his enjoyment fades into something softer. He helps restabilize her on her feet.

"That's exactly right. Well, far be it from me to defy a command from the one whose word is second only to the king himself. Lean in close."

Shifting towards her ear, he cups a hand by it and whispers.

"To bait them out of hiding."

[didntaxyou]

Her eyes widen, and for a long moment, she has to look down... which is about where Niou's shoulder is.

Since she didn't listen to Seiichi initially, she overcompensates listening to Niou now. Second only to the king himself, huh?

"I'd rather they stay hidden..."

[volleygenius]

That's not a good look for the princess, is it? In his mind, he can still hear the protest and concern in her voice when she pointed out the kind of reputation she would earn if she were to flirt with another man while presumably engaged to him.

To that end, it's not a good look for their relationship either. That's... probably good for one of Yukimura's intentions for him, at least, but not so much the other. Bunta is on his way over for those reasons alone. Whatever is responsible for that kernel of personal displeasure he feels is not something he's going to examine. It's not relevant.

Before Niou can answer her, he finishes closing the distance to them, his body language as relaxed as usual as he assumes a place close to Lissa's side and quietly reclaims her with a hand on her far shoulder. For all outward appearances, he's just joining his friend and fiancée in a conversation. His reaction to their whispering and clinging to each other is going to influence how this is perceived. Hands off my girl is not the message he wants to send to the crowd. I'm not concerned about this, so you shouldn't be either is much better.

"Yo," he greets. "That was a lively dance, huh? Want something to drink?"

Niou looks amused and takes the hint, slipping a step back from Lissa and pocketing his hand. "Good idea. I'll get us some."

"Thanks," Bunta answers with a wink, and pulls Lissa in a little closer.

[didntaxyou]

She looks from Bunta's hand to Niou's retreating back, a little forlorn.

With a full lower lip pout, she rounds on Bunta. "How are you so good at this?" she whispers. "Didn't my brother find you in an alley somewhere, and you do this politics thing like it's no thing!"

[volleygenius]

Bunta tips his head to the side, looking puzzled.

"Whattaya mean? S'just talking to people."

[didntaxyou]

She looked out at the crowd, and back towards Seiichi, still seated and observing.

"I mean, you saw me getting way too conspiratorial with Masaharu-kun, and you came back and 'rescued' me or whatever, and I didn't even realize I needed it until you did!"

Because she could now hear the last few whispers they'd incited beginning to die off.

"And you probably just made them think you were jealous! It's kinda brilliant."

[volleygenius]

That kernel of personal displeasure that Bunta felt but refused to examine had a name, and it definitely couldn't have been jealousy. He just made everyone think he was, like Lissa said.

"Well, I am a genius," he said lightly. Who is he to argue with praise? Bring it on!

[didntaxyou]

"I guess that's another part of your plan," she joked, but it was a joke that wasn't really a joke. "Masaharu-kun said my brother was trying to use you to provoke people..."

She bit her lip.

"He wouldn't do that if it was dangerous, right? He loves you."

[volleygenius]

He absolutely would, if it was necessary. The life of a military officer was potentially dangerous by its nature. Yukimura had a responsibility to protect the kingdom, and to use whatever assets were at his disposal to fulfil that duty, including them. Every one of them understood that when they signed up for the sake of that man.

He wouldn't do it recklessly. That was his love for them.

"Don't worry," he tells her. He's certainly not worried himself. "If they're looking for a fight, let them try and take me down. I'm not that easy."

[didntaxyou]

"I know a 'yes' when I hear it," she said, voice low, trying not to look too miserable with it. She was supposed to be talking to someone she loved, after all.

"That actually bordered on an 'of course he would," she added.

But he did something dangerous, too, when he... took up Mizuki's offer. But he'd sent off Jackal and Bunta to do it. Was that selfish? They'd been so willing... She wondered what they would have done if Seiichi refused the help.

Excepting this recent engagement thing, Seiichi was always sweet and indulgent to her. She'd known on some level he wasn't like that with everyone, but that was just his personality. She chanced a glance back at him, seeing Renji lean down to whisper something in his king's ear. Seiichi caught her looking and smiled at her, but... he always smiled. Not much she could get out of that.

But... Bunta was right, too. He could take care of himself, and he agreed to whatever Seiichi did... though whether that was because Seiichi did it or because he actually agreed with it, she didn't yet know. Bunta was smart, and Seiichi was clever, and... and he had to at least think everything would be all right, didn't he? Mizuki hadn't asked for executions, just... human trafficking. But again, what other choice had there been?

"...I couldn't be Seiichi," she muttered, finally. "Too much thinking."

[volleygenius]

Bunta's warm confidence doesn't falter in the face of her response. It wasn't really a callout, because that would suggest Bunta had been making an effort to conceal what she had simply said in more blunt terms-- and shifted the focus more onto what she thought that said about her brother.

That was understandable. Lissa has been pretty sheltered so far to the inner workings of running a kingdom. Yukimura was an incredible person. He loved his friends and family, and he cared deeply about ensuring his kingdom's success and future. Those goals had price tags, sometimes in measure of human lives. Yukimura was a good king because he understood the gravity of that price, and didn't spend those lives meaninglessly.

But they did have to be spent sometimes. The burden of that responsibility probably isn't something Lissa has considered much before.

"You don't need to worry about that either," he says, and places his hand back on her shoulder, this time as a reassurance. "Being Lissa is enough."

[didntaxyou]

It helps. It helps and she's grateful for it.

"Even if you not being as rich as Masaharu-kun was supposed to be provocative, I think he knew you'd be able to help me pull it off, too," she said decisively. "Seiichi knew you were the only one who wouldn't just make it look real, but make me make it look real, too."

[volleygenius]

Bunta smiles. Any praise is welcomed praise, but that comment made him particularly happy. She's right, too: every (serious) decision Yukimura made worked on at least two levels, and usually several more. As she'd noted, it was a lot of thinking.

"That so?" He asks, and offers his hand for another dance. "Well, let's not deny them a good show, then. Shall we?"

[didntaxyou]

A show, huh? She could see Bunta's singer friend walking back to the stage and chatting with the orchestra conductor. A lot of others watched her, too... she commanded attention, but warmly. Bunta was the same way. They both tended to make a happy spectacle, didn't they?

Lissa could do warm, but she wasn't prone to asking for attention. It came to her, she thought, more because of what she was than who. Seeking attention was sort of obnoxious, but not the way they did it!

She hopped up the little bit of height difference between them and wrapped her arms tight around Bunta's neck, faces close.

"How's that?"

[volleygenius]

Suddenly, she's close!

Even though he was the one who'd said it-- a good show-- he hadn't quite expected her to take that kind of initiative, to that... kind of level.

He almost breaks character from surprise, a couple of moments' hesitation as he processes. He can feel her breath on his face and the shape of her body. It's... not as awkward as he'd have thought it would be. Well, he's glad she's comfortable enough with him to do something like this. The moment of surprise passes, and an expression of cheer and amusement returns to his face. He links his hands similarly at her lower back.

"Aren't you gutsy. I like it."

[didntaxyou]

"Gutsy would be, what if we convinced Seiichi we actually wanted to get married? I mean, if he thinks so, everybody would, whether they wanted to or not!"

It's just another prank, isn't it? If people were going to be provoked by it, well, was that her fault?!

"Ooh, you could do something like, falling to your knees in the throne room and begging him to speed it up when you know there's already a bunch of people in there! Do you think he'd fall for that?!"

[volleygenius]

That's one joke that would be on her, isn't it? At least she's not fretting about dangers and brother burdens anymore.

"That would be even more gutsy. So, what happens after that?" He asks playfully. "King decrees royal wedding! Be there or else?"

[didntaxyou]

"Oh, I could just run away at the last minute," she said airily. "He'd follow me and give me anything I wanted to get me back, and everything would go back to normal."

It... wouldn't, though. It still hasn't, since before he got sick.

"Don't know where that'd leave you, though!"

[volleygenius]

"Stranded at the altar? Not a chance!" He bantered.

[didntaxyou]

"I bet Masaharu-kun would point out the wedding was Seiichi's idea in the first place, so HE could have it!"

She was fighting giggles, but... shouldn't she be seen laughing with her so-called husband-to-be?